The Diary Of 680 To The Present Day

Saturday 22nd January 2005

Bill has been up to cure two irritating small oil leaks. Other than that not much has been going on with the weather being so cold, just the sorting of spares and cleaning the inside of 680 which also has gathered dust and also the floor which was dirtied with our oily shoes when all the work was going on. I believe that without Bill coming on board 680 would not be so far advanced as she is now with all the problems that had faced us.

Saturday 19th February 2005

680 was again out this time doing a favour for a friend

She was washed first then parked up at a major bus depot

In the carpark of a Newcastle club watched over by me

Sunday 13th March

After the bout of bad weather moved on the cowling on the radiator air intake was finished and the fine pin -prick in a diesel pipe was repaired. 680 was road tested yesterday and the overheating problem seems resolved. Now the interior will be looked at a small area needs to be repainted and seats will be replaced on the upper deck. We are I believe just about ready for the rally season now

Thursday 31st March

Today the injector pump was removed to cure an annoying oil leak when we found another leak that we thought was coming from the exhaust manifold unfortunately it is coming from the cylinder head gasket the cylinder head will be retorqued next week in an endeavor to stop the leak if not we will renew the head gaskets

Wednesday 7th April

Bill removed the exhaust and inlet manifolds and verified that the oil was indeed coming from the cylinder head gaskets and the heads were tight. He is debating wether or not to remove the heads and replace them with the overhauled heads that we have spare and also new head gaskets. The rear bumper has been repaired and painted as Fred now is going to have it back on 680 this will be fitted on Saturday

Saturday 9th April

The rear bumper and side bonnets are now back in place. A couple of highly enthusaistic possible future members came in to see 680 while this work was going on and have a few ideas on fund raising this may become their department they are Craig & Diane who have been in contact over several months with me very nice people, any ideas are welcome. After a chat with Bill Fred and myself work resumed and Bill climbed under the front of 680 and removed the auxillary air connection valve which was disconnected (not by ourselves) because it was leaking air this will be replaced and connected so that an auxillary air supply can be connected to 680 if ever it need be so that the trouble encountered when she broke down last year would not be repeated.

Thursday 21st April

Having been away on holiday so I do not know what work the group has carried out this week on 680. I will be going to see what has been done to get 680 ready for the Teesside running day on Sunday.

After my visit today the air valve that was removed has been has been refitted with a new one and the interior has been washed out again by Linda and fred and is immaculate, a ticket machine holder is needed for the cab and a couple of seat cushions need securing. The fan belts have been adjusted and all should be ready for Sunday

Friday 29th April

The Teesside Running day went well and 680 did three journies to Stockton. New fan belts have been fitted as the old belts were worn. Today hopefully a new ticket machine holder will be ready and can be fitted. The windows need a good cleaning on the interior, then more cleaning and polishing will go ahead today and tomorrow in readiness for the Metrocentre Rally on Sunday. We intoduced the new member Craig to the world of restoration I think he enjoyed himself.

Wednesday 4th May

Bill today found the source of an oil leak on the rear of the engine after standing for so many years of not being ran on the road that the bolts on the pushrod plate covers and sump had loosened off enough for oil to escape not in great quantities but enough to cause concern, these have been retightened and after a run no oil was found to be leaking. The test will come when we travel down to Manchester at the weekend for the rear engine running day Rally

Saturday 7/8th May

Saturday saw 680 on its travels again this time down to Manchester to take part in the Rear Engine Running Day see rallies 2005 for story

Saturday 14th May

This week the side destination cover was removed and the hinge repaired one of the interior lights had to be removed and be recontructed all this now needs is a coat of paint before being refitted all the other interior lights will be removed and receive the same treatment if required. The door on the bonnet where the oil is checked needed retightening. A wire was fed from the centre door operating gear to the cab where warning lights will be installed like it was originally when new. The paint that had caught the window surround rubbers was also cleaned off by Linda using a fork lift truck to raise her high enough. Craig will have to be fitted out with overalls as he landed up filthy at the end of the day. A wiring short was found and rectified by Fred in the main panel. That panel is going to be changed for a newer one that we have in the stores when the time is right.

Saturday 21st May

The rubbers around the the doors and windows continue to be painted black by Linda to eradicate the paint that has over the years has caught them. Two interior lights have now been restored the rest will follow. 680 will be washed and cleaned over the next few days in readiness for next Sunday's rally in Edinburgh.

Monday 30th May

Today the burst heater pipes in the upper saloon were repaired. The remaining alternator belt snapped and this is coursing some concern as to why the belts are coming off the pulleys hopefully we can find and remedy the problem in time for the Tyne Tees Run on Sunday 680 will still run using one belt but we do need to find the problem. For the story of the Edinburgh rally check rallies 2005 link

Friday 3rd June

Yesterday saw Linda and fred up at 680 again this time a succesful outcome as they adjusted a throttle linkage raising 680's road speed to above 50mph. Linda then replaced a perished hose feeding the upper saloon heaters in the engine compartment all of the rest will be replaced in time. With the tedious job of painting the window rubbers nearly done Linda will be able to assist in replacing the spare alternator that we have as it was found on the one that was removed that the bearings had collapsed maybe we hope this is the problem with the alternator belts coming off.

Sunday 5th June

680 gained another trophy which was Best Of Group. At the Tyne Tees Run. See 2005 Rallies for report

Tuesday 7th June

680 travelled to the Gifford groups headquarters in Scotland where work too heavy for us to do will be carried out up there on the road springs, the exhaust developed a fault which will be repaired whilst there. She will then be put in for her yearly MOT.

Wednesday 15th June

With 680 still away up at Edinburgh having the repairs done there is not much to report on the page at the moment.

Wednesday 22nd June

Today Fred Linda and myself travelled up to the Gifford groups premises in glorious sunshine and returned 680 to Newcastle although the repairs are not completed those that have been done are excellent 680 will return to the Gifford lads later for the rest to be carried out. After a good journey home a couple of niggley things will have to be attended to before our journey to Blackpool on Saturday for the Totally Transport Rally. We also found out that 680 can go under a 4.5mtr canopy of filling stations to be filled with fuel. Its only low bridges now to find out about.

Saturday 26th June 2005

We travelled down to Blackpool for the Totall Transport Rally and had a good journey 680 never faltered and we were greeted by the members of the Lancastrian Transport Trust where they garaged 680 for the night. See rallies 2005 for photos and small report

Thursday 30th June 2005

Today the cylinder heads were removed to find what damage has been caused to the engine after the weekends breakdown, number four piston has "picked up" damaging the cylinder wall and piston we are now considering what action is to be taken with the engine.

Saturday 2nd July

680's engine and gearbox are now out of the chassis waiting for a replacement engine as the cause of the problem was the injectors not spraying a mist but pouring pure diesel into the cylinders washing any lubricant off the cylinder walls. How unlucky can you get Linda Craig and Fred got stuck in and had the engine out in four hours I took some easy parts off

Tuesday 5th July

With the failure of the engine of 680 her future is now in doubt as the funds that we have are now nearly exhausted the group are working to overcome this problem but with the luck that has downfallen us and not really being able to afford a replacement engine 680 will posssibly be off the scene for awhile. If anybody seeing this website has a spare 0680 engine. Please contact us.

Thursday 14th July

Our search for a engine or parts that we can afford is proving to be hard this means that 680 will be off the road and out of rallies for the season until enough money can be saved to purchase an engine.

The engine and gearbox out of 680

Saturday 23rd July

As work has continued on 680 now that the rest of the rally season is now definitely finished for 680 her the lower saloon has been stripped out as new floor covering will be fitted and the seat frames will be painted. On the engine side the engine and gearbox were seperated and the engine has been partially stripped and the damaged number 4 piston removed to reveal the extent of the damage as it is, this liner and piston are beyond repair. The further 5 pistons will be removed during the course of the week. I will post photographs later

Friday 29th July

All the pistons have been removed from the block and it looks like only one ( number 4 ) piston and liner will have to be replaced the rest of the liners can be glaze busted and new piston rings fitted to the other pistons a new set of big end shell bearings will also be fitted.

Number four piston seen here in the centre.

Sunday 7th August

Work still continues and the group owes a great thankyou to the Northeast Bus Preservation Trust for donating some of the parts needed to repair 680

Monday 22nd August

The Engine that was donated by the Newcastle College is now in 680 and work has been ongoing for the last four days installing it various alterations have to be made to accomodate this engine like that of GFS 427N but we have made great strides in the hours spent on this.

The Old engine destined for the college

The Engine Now Installed In 680

Wednesday 24th August

Fred and Linda today went up and had 680 running briefly to just check her out there are a few more adjustments to be made before she is ready for the road. John Oliver a good friend of ours who repairs agricultural machinery has been a great help with his knowledge and the loan of some of his equipment which has seen this episode move so fast.

Friday 26th August

The engine is now fully installed in 680 as this engine came from a vehicle already fitted for power steering we had to convert the existing power steering layout of 680 which we had so much trouble with the last time we fitted the engine from GFS 427N to that of the later type power steering layout i.e the pump goes directly into the timing gears in the timing housing thus the pump that was purchased at the time and was found to no good for that engine fits this engine and works fine. (see Saturday 30th October above ) Just one or two further auxillary parts to be refitted and hopefully she will be ready for road testing. Less than two months since the breakdown she will be back on the road to be ran in this is thanks to the Newcastle College Coming to our rescue and other clubs who have helped us namely the Northeast Bus Preservation Trust.

Monday 29th August 2005

Today 680 travelled to the Northeast Bus Preservation Trust's rally at Seaburn as no-one knew that 680 was back on the road it was a pleasant suprise for enthusiasts and friends who gave us the well done lads salute.There is however a problem with the gears slipping but the engine performed beautifully we will overcome the gear slip with a little help from friends. see rallies 2005 for report and photos.

Friday 9th September 2005

Fred seems to have cured the gearslip after advice from the Leyland mechanics of Stagecoach he has some dump valves to fit to the gearbox. The interior seat frames that were stripped by Linda and Craig have now been painted. Everything seems as it is moving along now

Friday 16th September 2005

Today Bill fixed the diesel leaks and modified the pipes to the gearbox and also cured a couple of air leaks from the dump valves, which are now mounted on the gearbox. The alternator was adjusted and aligned with the other pulleys and the belts were retensioned. A oil leak on the power steering feed pipe was also cured.

Saturday 24th September

A remaining dump valve was fitted to the reverse gear on 680 yesterday to help with it disengaging more efficiently. The rear bumper has been replaced and it is only the interior floor covering now that needs attention when funds become available

Wed 2nd November 2005

We are now moving into winter where it is now turning to cold to do much on 680 fred and Linda had her out on Sunday to the depot and greased and checked her out underneath then washed her off in the bus wash. We have managed to get some seat cushions with the PTE logo on the moquette covering for some of the seats. Fred has now received a full wiring diagram for 680 from Alexanders and has sent them a couple of moquette samples for the rest of the seating

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